It is just unfortunate that America goes by their own standards. The longer they take to decide the greater shall be the *resistenace to change*. Choice is 'Of the people, by the people and for the people'! Brij B. Vij
>From: "Mike Joy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: [USMA:22557] Voluntary metrication - at a cost >Date: Tue, 8 Oct 2002 10:15:06 +0800 > >Dear all, > >First, let me say that I'm impressed by the quality of nearly all the >postings that appear on this list - arguments that are well put together >and make a lot of good sense. > >But it has become apparent through reading all the postings and other >literature, that it looks like the USA is only going to switch to the use >of >the SI system ONLY as a result of a major disaster. > >Nations with small population numbers can make changes more easily, and >this includes the difficult subject of changing from something familiar to >something new, such as their measuring system. > >At the time of metrication, Australia's population was only about the 11 >million mark and people were not so vociferous as they might be today. > >The US has, however, a huge number of people who don't wish to change at >all, >citing their 'liberty' and 'freedom' as excuses without seeing the obvious >benefits. > >While NIST's attempts at bringing the metrication issue to the public's >attention is commendable, it's the same old story - you can lead a horse to >water but you can't force it to drink. > >History will, unfortunately, repeat itself. It took the tragic collision >of two fully loaded passenger airliners over the Grand Canyon to suddenly >bring about the creation of today's air traffic control system. So it will >be with metrication. Had the Mars Lander debacle caused loss of life, you >can be certain that the US would be a lot closer to metrication than it is >now. > >We can only wait. > >Regards, > >Mike > >Perth, Australia _________________________________________________________________ MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos: http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx
